Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is a good mix of the old and the new with a lot of old portions of Bhopal reminiscent of the Mughal influence and the new showcasing the planned development of a modern Indian city. Bhopal is the seat of the Madhya Pradesh Government and is a beautiful mid-sized city in the heart of India. It is said that Bhopal was originally called "Bhoj-pal" after Raja Bhoj, who is attributed with founding the city. It was an important part of the "Bhoj" kingdom with Ujjaini (a city close to Bhopal) being the seat of the kingdom.
Bhopal lies on the banks of a enormous lake spanning several square miles, dominating its landscape and giving it a magnetic, mesmerizing quality. The serenity of the lake is perhaps is responsible for an air of almost deliberate lethargy and gratification.
Bhopal once a small, sleepy picturesque town with lush forests and laid-back days of shikars, picnics and quiet fishing trips is the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh. But still, in the wake industrialization and growth resulting in conflux of people, Bhopal retains its eternal quaintness and charm.
Situated along the slopes of a sandstone ridge in the north-western part of Madhya Pradesh, the city was built by King Bhoj in the 11th century. The region was a part of the Mughal Empire till 1707. The Begums of the royal family ruled it for almost a hundred years, before Nawab Hamidullah, son of Nawab Sultan Jahan, the third Begum, ascended the throne in 1926. He acceded Bhopal to India in 1947.
Destination Places in Bhopal
Fast Facts
| Population : | 2,958,416 |
| Languages : | Hindi, Urdu and English |
| Currency : | Rupees |
| Region : | Northwestern part of the state of Madhya pradesh, in central India. |
| Geographic Coordination : | 23°15'N 7°25'E |
| Climate and Weather : | Bhopal has a humid subtropical climate, with mild, dry winters, a hot summer and a humid monsoon season. Summers start in late March and go on till mid-June, the average temperature being around 30°C (86°F), with the peak of summer in May, when |
| Best time to visit : | November-February |
| Country : | India |
| Area : | Ginnorgarh, Delawadi, Raisen, Kerwan, Islamnagar. |
Food
Bhopal, like any other north Indian city offers a rich Indian cuisine to explore. People enjoy eating the sweet - sour and spicy "chaat" in Bhopal. Due to the Mughal influence, Bhopal also offers delicacies like Kebabs, Goat Biryani, Chicken Tikka, Jalebi, Ras Malai etc. The best chicken Biryani can be tasted at Jameel Hotel in old Bhopal .
Shopping
No visit to this city is complete without buying some bead work or embroidered purses, bags, shawls, tunics etc. Also, you can get very good quality fabric (silk, satin, cashmere, pashmina) etc. from the various emporiums run and operated by the governments of the different states of India in this capital city. One visit to Bhopal will give you an exposure into the various kinds of fabric and material, arts and crafts that come from different parts of the country.
Local Transport
Auto-Rickshaw,Bus,Taxi,Call Cabs
Getting Around
Aquarium, Upper and Lower lakes, Chowk, Regional Science Center, Van Vihar, Laxmi Narayan Temple and Museum, Bharat Bhawan, Government Archeological Museum, Taj-ul-Masjid, Shukat Mahal and Sadar Manzil, Moti Masjid, Jama Masjid.
Entertainment
A culturally vibrant city, Bhopal is a delight for theatre lovers as Bharat Bhavan, Museum of Man and Ravindra Bhavan, between them organise theatre fests all through the year. Bharat Bhavan also organises music and dance recitals. The city is also famous for its melas, or fairs. Bhopal Haat, Gauhar Mahal, Bittan Market Ground and Dusshera Maidan are the main venues.